Under-arrest President Yoon defends himself against impeachment at Constitutional Court

President Yoon Suk Yeol attended his own impeachment trial on Tuesday, the first time for any South Korean leader to do so.

There, he appealed to the bench his long-held belief in liberal democracy.

Our correspondent Oh Soo-young reports.

A Prosecutor-turned-President, and now a pre-trial inmate, Yoon Suk Yeol argued against his impeachment at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, the third hearing of his trial.

The first sitting leader in the nation's history to be arrested and defend himself against impeachment, Yoon attended his trial for the first time to make a personal appeal to the eight-justice bench as a respondent.

"Throughout my career in public service, I have held firm conviction in liberal democracy. As the Constitutional Court exists to uphold and protect the Constitution, I humbly ask the honorable justices to carefully examine this matter in every respect."

During the hearing, his lawyers outlined various points that they claim substantiate Yoon's martial law which they plan to back with witnesses and evidence.

First, they cited the opposition-led National Assembly's abuse of impeachment power against high-ranking officials, indiscriminate budget cuts on key military, nuclear energy and welfare programs essential to the country's future, public livelihoods, and safety.

They also underscored "hybrid warfare" as a new type of national crisis that poses security, economic, and political threats.

Examples include the leak of classified military intelligence and critical technologies to China.

Yoon and his team once again stressed the need to investigate suspicions of electoral fraud in the parliamentary race last year,.. producing photographic materials.

When questioned by the judge whether he had sent a note to Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok to prepare a budget for an emergency legislative body, to presumably replace the elected parliament, and whether he'd ordered military commanders to drag out lawmakers from the National Assembly to prevent them from overturning his martial law.

Yoon answered he had not.

He further stated he'd immediately ordered troops to withdraw from the building once the Assembly passed a motion to end the decree.

Meanwhile, the Assembly's side continued to argue that the President's martial law was illegal.

It cited media reports, investigation records, and CCTV footage from the National Assembly and the National Election Commission to back its arguments that Yoon had planned and caused disruption to the country's constitutional institutions.

The panel members criticized the President's attendance as they walked out of the hearing.

"Much of his narrative revolves around allegations of election fraud. It seems his intention in attending these hearings is not to influence the court's direction or to clear his name but rather to continue fueling the propaganda that mobilizes his supporters."

Some 42-hundred people rallied in support of Yoon in areas surrounding the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.

One participant was arrested, after physically abusing a police officer.

The Court says its officials are operating an emergency standby system, with heightened security, and police protection for justices.

"Yoon's lawyers say the President will if possible attend all future trial hearings which have been scheduled until February 13th.

The fourth hearing takes place on Thursday, with testimony by former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun as the first witness to the trial.

Oh Soo-young Arirang News."